IT Relief appoints Packard Bell MD as chairman

NEWS IT Relief has unveiled a new chairman to coordinate its support of the UK charity, KIDS. Graham Hopper, MD of Packard Bell NEC UK, agreed to take on the role earlier this week. Hopper will add his weight to the organisation's campaign to raise £150,000 for KIDS by the end of the year. KIDS works with parents and carers of children with special needs and disabilities to help them develop skills which will enable them to achieve their aspirations. Actress Elizabeth Hurley is one of its patrons. The £150,000 will be used to fund a specific project called KIDS Online - the networking of all the regional KIDS centres so that parents and children can access information about all the support services available to them. Additionally, the organisation aims to install PCs with Internet access in the homes of all housebound children to give them better communications access to the outside world. Hopper succeeds Bob Jones, founder of Sonix, who had been chairman since IT Relief's launch. Hopper said: "Since its inception in 1996, IT Relief has raised a lot of money within the IT industry for many worthy causes. It's an exciting time to begin this role at IT Relief, as we get set to hold our largest fundraising event, the "Hollywood Nights" charity ball in October. I am looking forward to working with the other committee members and IT Relief supporters to raise even more money for KIDS." The focal point of the fund-raising campaign is the gala ball at the London Hilton on 8 October. Packard Bell will provide facilities to help IT Relief sell tickets for the ball. Silicon.com hosts the IT Relief Web site at http://www.silicon.com/itrelief For more information, email helpkids@itrelief.org